Short Takes

India stay at the top

Calcutta: India retained their top position in ICC Test ranking with 123 points - a clear six-point lead over second placed South Africa. While India have gained one ranking point, South Africa have leaped from 109 to 117 points.

Ravi named

Calcutta: India's Sundaram Ravi has been appointed one of the on-field umpires for the opening match of the Champions Trophy beginning June 1. Ravi and Rod Tucker will be the on-field umpires for the match between England and Bangladesh at The Oval.

British help

Lahore: Britain's National Crime Agency provided the initial intelligence that helped uncover a major spot-fixing scandal in the Pakistan Super League, a leading official from world cricket's governing body revealed on Thursday.

Stan ousted

Rome: Third seed Stan Wawrinka became the latest high-profile casualty at the Italian Open on Thursday when the Swiss was knocked out in the third round by American John Isner. Isner won 7-6 (1), 6-4. Novak Djokovic defeated Roberto Bautista-Agut 6-4, 6-4.

Six-under

Bangkok: Gaganjeet Bhullar fired an error-free opening round of six-under 65, putting him in tied-fourth place at the Thailand Open. Himmat Rai (69) was at the tied 21st place.

Rule change

London: Players will face a two-match retrospective ban for diving from the start of next season after the English Football Association (FA) approved a new rule to combat simulation in an annual general meeting on Thursday.

Juve's title

Rome: Juventus beat Lazio 2-0 to win a third successive Italian Cup final as goals from Dani Alves and Leonardo Bonucci kept them on course for a treble this season.

Vineeth's loss

Thiruvananthapuram: India footballer CK Vineeth, who had been appointed as an auditor in the Principal Accountant General's office here, has lost his job after his service was terminated reportedly due to lack of attendance. Vinneth plays for Bengaluru FC in I-league and Kerala Blasters in the ISL.

Hockey meet

Calcutta: Baruipur High School emerged champions of Dhyanchand Memorial (Under-14) hockey tournament, beating Nadia District HA 6-0. Dipasan Halder and Rupesh Adhikary scored a brace each, while Santanu Naskar and Atanu Naskar were the other scorers.